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Austin Healeys in Europe

stretchit2

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This past June a number of members of the Southern California Healey Association shipped 12 cars, 10 of them Healeys, from the Port of Long Beach to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. This was the first step in a 28 day, 3,200 mile journey through eight countries and countless towns and villages.


The main purpose of the trip was to attend the 5th European Healey Meeting, in Rust Germany. This meeting is similar to our Conclave or Rendezvous, but it only occurs once every five years. In 2013 a smaller group of us attended the 4th European Healey Meeting in Scotland which was also an epic adventure.


All ten of our Healeys performed admirably and but for a few minor mechanical issues tackled the Alps, country roads, traffic in major cities and the Autobahn with ease. The combined knowledge of these seasoned Healey travelers and their skills in the art of collector car caravanning made each days journey a pleasure.


What a way to see a continent, a worms eye view if you will. Back roads and little villages where the people would come out to greet us every time we stopped. When engaging with the local citizens we were never treated as tourists, travelers yes, but never tourists.


The highlight of the trip was the gathering in Rust Germany. There were about 200 Healeys in attendance from all over Europe and the World. Fifteen cars were there from the USA, 26 cars from Australia (man do those folks have some nice Healeys), and there was even a car there from Japan. John Chatham and his group brought a couple of Work's cars and there were at least four 100S in attendance as well.


Here are a couple of pictures.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YmCNhfU6P3PUn5ty5

Cheers,

Jeff

P.S. We have a lot of incredible gatherings here in the Good Ol USA. As a matter of fact just today we made our reservations for the 2019 Conclave in South Dakota.

IMG_20180806_222718.jpg
 
Wow. Oh! Wow!! Doug
 
That looked like a fantastic journey, great pictures.
 
This past June a number of members of the Southern California Healey Association shipped 12 cars, 10 of them Healeys, from the Port of Long Beach to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. This was the first step in a 28 day, 3,200 mile journey through eight countries and countless towns and villages.


The main purpose of the trip was to attend the 5th European Healey Meeting, in Rust Germany. This meeting is similar to our Conclave or Rendezvous, but it only occurs once every five years. In 2013 a smaller group of us attended the 4th European Healey Meeting in Scotland which was also an epic adventure.


All ten of our Healeys performed admirably and but for a few minor mechanical issues tackled the Alps, country roads, traffic in major cities and the Autobahn with ease. The combined knowledge of these seasoned Healey travelers and their skills in the art of collector car caravanning made each days journey a pleasure.


What a way to see a continent, a worms eye view if you will. Back roads and little villages where the people would come out to greet us every time we stopped. When engaging with the local citizens we were never treated as tourists, travelers yes, but never tourists.


The highlight of the trip was the gathering in Rust Germany. There were about 200 Healeys in attendance from all over Europe and the World. Fifteen cars were there from the USA, 26 cars from Australia (man do those folks have some nice Healeys), and there was even a car there from Japan. John Chatham and his group brought a couple of Work's cars and there were at least four 100S in attendance as well.


Here are a couple of pictures.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YmCNhfU6P3PUn5ty5

Cheers,

Jeff

P.S. We have a lot of incredible gatherings here in the Good Ol USA. As a matter of fact just today we made our reservations for the 2019 Conclave in South Dakota.

View attachment 54968

Wow. Oh! Wow!! Doug
What he said, Wow, Oh Wow!
 
I followed your trip via Mike Scroggie's blog. MAJOR jealousy here.

Looks like you guys had a great experience. Kudos to the planner(s).

See you at the Black Hills Conclave next year. That ought to be another great experience - never been a Healey meet anywhere near there.
 
I like all the shots and Like Reid I'm jealous as the---DEVIL
 
Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. I've always thought the best way to enjoy a classic is to drive it on scenic roads. It will be hard to top your trip.

I especially liked seeing the Amphicars in their element, and the Porsche hiding its face in shame amidst the Healeys.
 
I followed your trip via Mike Scroggie's blog. MAJOR jealousy here.

Looks like you guys had a great experience. Kudos to the planner(s).

See you at the Black Hills Conclave next year. That ought to be another great experience - never been a Healey meet anywhere near there.

Reid,

I agree that the planners did a great job. Steve Kirby, the President of the Southern California club did a great job, including providing turn by turn instructions through some of the most scenic routes you could imagine. He had help from others, most notably Peter Roses (Past President) and Mike Bliss, who had previously lived in Holland and had some great secret spots to share with us.

Jeff
 
The Amphicars were awesome. There were at least 50 of them and to see them coming down the channel in Amsterdam was so cool. It was a German club which is only fitting inasmuch the Amphicars were built in Germany.

Below is a short video of them transitioning from water to land. When the image comes up give it a couple of taps and the video should start.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/T4q719vyBmRFK8wz7
 
G’day Jeff,
great to see photos from an American perspective. I have seen dozens that the Australian travellers took.
Yes, I am another of the envious ones!
Cheers,
Alwyn
 
The original Herald 1200carb was a Solex, however as with many cars in Britain at the time a twin SU conversion was readily available and quite popular. Possibly what some of the Amphicar owners have done?

Danny
 
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